General Election 2010 - A Brief Introduction To The Candidates

Here at newmaldenpeople.co.uk, we thought it would be useful to give a potted and personal introduction to the four main candidates for our seat (Kingston & Surbiton). I would urge you to have a look at the candidates’ individual websites where applicable or their profiles on the party sites where possible, to gain a deeper understanding of their policies and vision for the future of the constituency.

The confirmed candidates for Kingston & Surbiton are:

EDWARD DAVEY

(Liberal Democrat) – incumbent

www.edwarddavey.co.uk

www.libdems.org.uk

Edward has been the MP for Kingston & Surbiton since 1997 when he was elected at his first attempt, defeating the Conservative incumbent, Richard Tracey in the Surbiton constituency with a majority of just 56 votes.

He has represented the Liberal Democrats as spokesperson for Education & Skills, then Trade & Industry, before taking office in 2006 as Liberal Democrat Chief Of Staff and Chair of Campaign And Communications.

Edward was a Daily Telegraph ‘expenses saint’ in the light that he has never claimed any second home allowance.

He was educated at Jesus College Oxford and London University.

In 1995, before his election as an MP, he won a Royal Humane Society bravery award and commendation from the Chief Constable of the British Transport Police for rescuing a woman who had fallen onto the train line in the face of on oncoming train at Clapham Junction station.

 

HELEN WHATELY

(Conservative)

www.helenwhately.co.uk

www.conservatives.com

Helen Whately is a first time runner for parliament. To quote her website, she has “seized the opportunity of being the candidate to make a start, campaigning on local priorities like school places, crime, anti-social behaviour and the NHS, fighting for local services and helping people with individual problems when they haven’t known where else to turn.”

Helen has pledged to claim only essential expenses required for her to do a good job as MP; not to claim a second home allowance; publish itemised details of all her expense claims on her website and to hold annual public meetings and regular surgeries in the interest of complete transparency.

Helen’s background is in the corporate world, initially with PriceWaterhouseCoopers then AOL, and is she now works as a management consultant in a company that is a global leader in the healthcare sector. She is also involved in some policy work for Andrew Lansley and the Conservative health team.

Helen was educated at Oxford University where she read PPE (Politics, Philosophy and Economics).

 

MAX FREEDMAN

(Labour)

Facebook page

www.labour.org.uk

www.kingstonlabour.com

Very little information is available for Max at this time as his profile on the official Labour Party site has not been updated and he does not have a personal website. For further general information on the Labour Party in Kingston, please look at their website.

Max has a Facebook page, the link to which is given above.

As soon as more information becomes available we will publish it on newmaldenpeople.co.uk.

 

CHRIS WALKER

(Green)

www.kingston.greenparty.org.uk/localsites/kingston

www.greenparty.org.uk

Very little information is available for Chris at this time as there is no profile on the official Green Party site and he does not have a personal website. For further general information on the Green Party in Kingston, please look at their website.

As soon as more information becomes available we will publish it on newmaldenpeople.co.uk.

 

So, there you have it. I’m sure the Election will provide us with some great debate and that it might be, if the polls are anything to go by, a close run affair. Keep an eye on newmaldenpeople.co.uk for updates and reports over the coming weeks and months.